Nut-retaining socket wrench



Oct. 24, 1961 R. w. vosE NUT-RETAINING SOCKET WRENCH Filed April 25, 1959 INVENTOR POBfET VV- VUSE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,005,367 NUT-RETA GSOCKET WRENCH Robert W. Vose, West Springfield, Mass., assignor to Moore Drop Forging Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Apr. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 808,475

1 Claim. (Cl. 81-125) This invention relates to socket wrenches of the magazine type which automatically retain a plurality of nuts upon their removal from wheel studs or the like, and which automatically feed the nuts for reapplication to the studs.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved nut-retaining socket wrench of simple and inexpensive construct-ion.

A further object of this invention is to provide animproved wrench of. the-above type of constructional characteristics enabling a component thereof to be readily and inexpensively replaced without the use of tools and by a person possessing little mechanical skill.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved socket wrench of the above type having constructional characteristics which substantially reduce the possibility of injury arising in its use.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description and with reference to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a power-driven socket Wrench embodying this invention; T

FIG. 2 is a side View on an enlarged scale .of the. nut-retaining socket disconnected from the power unit, and partly in section;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the socket;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View partly in section of the socket showing in detail the construction of a retaining FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an alternative form of retaining ring; p r I FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in section of another alternative form of retaining ring mounted on the nut-retaining socket; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary 'view partly in section of still -another alternative form' of retaining ring disposed on a'm'odifi'ed socket.

Referring in detail to the drawing, a nut-retaining magazine or socket 10 embodying this invention is shown op erat-ively coupled to a power wrench 12. The power wrench has a reversible drive for selectively rotating the socket 10 in opposite directions for either removing or applying nuts to studs such as on the wheels of an automobile or the like. While the socket is shown coupled to a power wrench, it is equally adaptable for coupling to manually operable wrench handles and the like.

The socket 10 is in the form of an elongated tubular member 14 having a cylindrical outer surface throughout its length and a polygonal nut-engaging inner surface 16. The member 14 is open at its outer end to receive nuts 18, such as shown in FIG. 2. The member 14 is of suflicient length to simultaneously retain a plurality of nuts, preferably at least five, which is the number used on the wheels of most automobiles. The inner end of the socket includes an axial opening 20 and a plurality of transverse locking holes 22 communicating with the axial opennig 20. The opening 20 is adapted to receive the drive square of a power wrench or wrench handle. The locking holes are provided to receive the ball detents or other locking means of the drive square. Four locking holes have been provided to insure adequate lock up of the socket on the driving means.

Within the socket, means is provided for urging the nuts 18 outwardly of the open end of the socket to feed 3,005,3 raien'tdjoc'au, 1961 ice the nuts, one at a time, into position forapplication to the wheel studs. The urging means comprises a coil spring 24 having one end seated on the back wall 26 of the socket. The other end of the spring-24 is received within a follower 28. The follower is axially movable in the tubular member and is of similar polygonal crossdimensioned to permit outward movement of the balls with respect to the tubular member. In their innermost positions, FIGS. 2 and 3, the balls extend into the tubular member 14 a distance sufiiciently to normally retain the nuts 18 within the member. The outer portions of the balls are disposed outwardly of the cylindrical surface of the socket. I 1

Means for spring loading the balls 30 in nut-retaining position is in the form of an annular member or retaining ring 34 which girds the socket in overlying relation to the openings 32. The ring 34 is formed of a synthetic plastic material such as polyethylene, which is scuff resistant and withstands oil, grease and extremes. of atmospheric temperature. The inner surface of the ring 34 is recessed as at 36, best seen in FIG. .4. Therecess receives the outer, portions of the balls 30. .The ring 34 holds the balls 30 in place in the openings 32 and urges The inter-engage.

them into their innermost positions. ment of the balls and the retaining ring locksthering in place on the smooth cylindrical outer surface of the socket. vThe plastic material of which the ring 34 is fabri cated is of suflicient elasticity or resilience to enable the ring to be slid over the-ballsfitl withoutbeing permanently deformed. The elasticcharacter, of the ring 34 permits the balls 30 to'be forced outwardly by the passage er nut into'and out. of the socket- 1 In operation the open end of the socket is engagedwith a stud-mounted nut. The socket'is rotated'and' as the nut is unscrewed it forces the balls 30 outwardly stretching the resilient retaining ring 34. The ring returns the balls 30 into their innermost positions after the wide dimension of the nut is positioned inwardly of the balls. This procedure may be continued until all the nuts of a wheel have been removed and the socket is fully loaded, as shown in FIG. 2. When it is desired to use the nuts the upper or outermost nut is engaged with a stud and the socket is rotated to screw the nut onto the stud. As the nut is driven home it forces the balls outwardly against the ring 34 and the balls are returned by the ring to their innermost position after the nut passes between the balls. The follower 28 and spring 24 move the next lower nut into position to be applied to the next stud. The process may be continued until the socket is empty.

After extended usage, indentations or impressions may be formed by the balls 30 in the plastic material of the ring. When this occurs the nut-retaining etficiency of the socket is reduced. The socket construction includes an adjustment feature to correct for this wear. The adjustment may be readily made by rotating the retaining ring 34 sufliciently to bring unworn portions of the ring into engagement with the balls 30. In one preferred form of this invention, FIGS. 2-4, the recess 36 extends throughout the inner circumference of the ring enabling a relatively large number of wear adjustments before replacement of the ring is required.

In FIG; 5 another preferred form of'retainingring34 is shown. The ring 34 is identical in all respects with the retaining ring 34- described above, with the exception of the ball engaging recess. The ring 34 includes a plurality of recesses 36 disposed in circumferentially spaced relation about the innersurface of the ring. The recesses 36 are positioned to receive the outer portions of the balls. The inter-engagement of the balls and ring holds the ringin place on the socket. Wear adjustment may be; made by rotating the ring until unused pairs of," recesses 3'6rec eive the balls. For purposes of" illustration the ring shown has four recesses 36, however, it-is obvious that a greater number could readily be provided; While this ring airords fewer wear adjustments than the ring 34 with it's'continuous recess or groove 36, it may be equally suitable for all practical-purposes and obtainable ata lower cost.

Other modifications of'the invention are shown in FIGS; 6 and 7. In FIG. 6 a retaining-ring 38' of synthetic plastic material similar to the retaining ring 34 described above includes a plurality of pnojections40 which extend radially inward from the inner surface of the ring. Balls 41 (only one shown) are of smaller diameter than the thickness of the walls of the member 14. The balls. are positioned in the openings 32 and'their outer port-ions are thus recessed inwardly of'the cylindrical outer surface of the tubular member 14. The 'pnojections 40 are disposed in the openings 32'and engaged with the balls 41 to urge the balls inwardly into their nut-engaging positions. The engagement of the projections 40 and the openings 32-ho1d the ring in place on the cylindrical outer surface of the tubular member.

In FIG. 7 the tubular member 14 has an annular groove 42 disposed adjacent its upper end. The openings 32 only one of which is shown) are. locatedin the groove 42; A plastic retaining ring 44 fits into the groove 42 in overlying relation to the, openings 6-2. The ring 44 is thus held inplace. on the tubular member and holdsthe balls in place inthe openings 32. The outer surface of the ring 44 is flush with the outer surface of the tubular member. provides a socket wrench having a smooth cylindrical surface throughout its length.

In all the forms of this invention the retainingrings have smooth outer. surfacesandtogether with the'cylin drical outer surface of the member 14,provide a socket. which is safe touse since there are no sharp projecting edges or corners to nick the users hand-as when the sock: t srq atine t sh peedt n pportin the/wrench, such as in shifting frqmone nut. to another, the user will often place hishandatthetip end ofg -thetsocketvto guide it into position. When a power unit is being used and the socket is still rotating, any metallic projection or corner is exceedingly dangerous. With this invention such danger is practically eliminated. It will also be noted that the rings described herein may be readily removed from the tubular member andreplacedby a new ring without the use. of tools. This operation is; sufliciently simple to be performed by a. p ersqnhaving little mechanical skill. Furthermore, the ring; may-be; readily and inexpensively molded andthereplacement of a worn ring is accomplished at a relatively low cost.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed 1s- A nut-retaining socket wrench comprising an elongated tubular member adapted to retain a plurality of nuts and having a cylindrical outer surface throughout its length,

a polygonal nut-engaging inner surfaceand an open end to receive said nuts, means disposed within said tubular member axially urging said nuts out of" said open end,

openings extending radially through wall portions of said tubular member adjacent said open end, the inner ends of said openings being of reduced diameter, metallic balls disposed in said openings and having portions extending into said, tubular member to releasably retain said nuts therein and portions extending outwardly of said cylindrical surface, and an annular member of synthetic plastic material disposed on said cylindrical surfaceand overlying said openings, saidannular member having a groove extending around its inner circumference inter engaged with the outwardly extending portions of" said balls, the interengagement serving to retain said annular member in place on said tubular member, said annular member urging said balls inwardly and being sufliciently resilient to permit said balls to be moved radially, outward by the passage of nuts into and out of'said tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

